C-295M Twin-Turboprop Transport Aircraft, Spain

The C-295M is EADS CASA (now Airbus Military) twin-turboprop transport aircraft developed by the former Construccionnes Aeronáuticas SA (CASA), based in Madrid and a founder member of the EADS company.

The new C-295 is a stretched derivative of the CN-235 transporter, with characteristic high-wing, rear-loader design. The aircraft is noted for its short take-off and landing capability on semi-prepared runways and for the large payload capacity of 9,250kg. The landing and take-off run of just 320m and 670m allow the aircraft access to runways close to operational or crisis areas or where supplies and troops are needed.

C-295M transport aircraft programme

CASA announced the aircraft in June 1997 at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget and the first production C-295 made its first flight in 1998. The aircraft was granted INTA certification for military operations, and DGAG and FAA (FAR part 25) certification in 1999.

In 1999, the Spanish Ministry of Defence placed a contract for nine C-295M transport aircraft. The aircraft entered service with the Spanish Air Force in November 2001 and delivery of the aircraft completed in 2006. A further two aircraft were ordered in 2005, two in 2006 and two in 2007 to bring the fleet to 15.

International orders and deliveries

International orders include: Air Force of Poland (eight - deliveries complete), United Arab Emirates Navy (four for maritime patrol), Brazilian Air Force (12 to support the SIVAM Amazon monitoring project, first delivered in October 2006), Swiss Air Force (two), Royal Jordanian Air Force (two), Algerian Air Force (six) and the Finnish Air Force (two).

In April 2005, Venezuela ordered ten C-295 transport aircraft, but the USA denied the export licence necessary for the American content of the aircraft and the order has been revoked. In February 2006, Portugal ordered 12 C-295 aircraft, seven for military transport and five for maritime surveillance. Deliveries began in November 2008 and have been completed.

Poland ordered an additional two aircraft in October 2006 (delivered in September 2007) and two in October 2007 (to be delivered in 2009) to bring its fleet to 12 aircraft. Five more aircraft, worth $262m, were ordered in July 2012. The first two were delivered in October 2012 and the third in December 2012. The remaining aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2013.

In October 2007, the Chilean Navy purchased three aircraft. The Colombian Air Force ordered four aircraft in November 2007. The first two deliveries were made in June 2008, while the third and fourth were delivered in November 2008 and April 2009 respectively. Two more aircraft were ordered, one in September 2012 and the other in January 2013. These are scheduled to be delivered in 2013.

The Czech Air Force ordered four C-295 aircraft in May 2009. Deliveries began at the end of 2009 and concluded in 2010.

EADS CASA was teamed with Raytheon to offer the C-295 combined with the CN-235-300 for the US Army / Air Force joint cargo aircraft (JCA) competition. The C-27J was chosen in June 2007.

In February 2012, Indonesia placed an order for nine C-295 aircraft. The first two were delivered to the Indonesian Air Force in September 2012. The remaining aircraft will be delivered by 2014.

In March 2012, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defence placed an order for two aircraft. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed for six additional aircraft. Kazakhstan took delivery of the first two C295s in January 2013.

In May 2012, Airbus Military received an order from Oman for the delivery of C-295 aircraft in tactical transports (five) and maritime patrol aircraft (three) configurations. The deliveries are scheduled for completion in 2013.

Egyptian Air Force ordered six C295 transport aircraft in January 2013. The aircraft will be delivered from late 2013.

C-295M cockpit

The flight deck is fitted with dual controls for the pilot and co-pilot. The aircraft is equipped with fully digital integrated TopDeck avionics suite supplied by Thales. The displays, including four 152mm x 203mm (6in x 8in) Thales colour liquid crystal displays, are compatible with Night Vision Goggles (NVG).

"C-295M has short take-off and landing capability on semi-prepared runways."

Aircraft for the UAE Navy are fitted with FITS, which consists of four multi-function consoles and integrates data from sensors including search radar, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), TV cameras or other sensors.

Two head-up displays can also be fitted as an option.

The communications suite includes two or three UHF/VHF radios, a single or dual HF radio and an audio control system. The C-295 is also fitted with a cockpit voice recorder (CVR), identification friend or foe (IFF) system, the flight data recorder (FDR) and an emergency locator transponder (ELT).

Other navigation equipment includes two multimode receivers (MMR), two automatic direction finders (ADF), one direction finder (DF) and two distance measuring equipment (DME) units. There are also three possible configurations for long-range and autonomous navigation: two integrated inertial navigation and global positioning systems (INS/GPS), two GPS or two GPS plus one INS/GPS.

The aircraft can be fitted with alternative communications and navigational systems to suit the customer country's operational requirements. Optional equipment includes an enhanced terrain collision avoidance system (TCAS), tactical air navigation (TACAN), category II instrument landing system, a microwave landing system and satellite communications.

"The C-295M is EADS CASA twin-turboprop transport aircraft."

Cabin

The main cabin can be fitted with two or three rows of foldable seats to accommodate 48 fully equipped paratroops or up to 75 troops. There are two paratroop doors, one on each side at the rear part of the cabin. The cabin is fully air conditioned and pressurised.

The cabin can be configured for medical evacuation missions for 27 litters (stretcher patients) and four medical staff. An alternative configuration accommodates an intensive care unit for 12 stretcher patients.

The cabin can be fitted for mixed cargo and passenger transport, or for all cargo operations. A roller loading system is installed and a wide ventral door and cargo ramp in the upswept rear fuselage provide easy cargo access.

The cabin holds up to 57m³ of cargo and can accommodate up to three light vehicles, Land Rovers or equivalent, or five 2.24m × 2.74m (standard 88in × 108in) pallets.

Countermeasures

The C-295 can be fitted with the Indra ALR-300V2B radar warner and BAE Systems ANALE-47 chaff / flares dispenser.

C-295M engines

The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, each rated at 1,972kW and at 2,177kW with auto power reserve. The engines drive six-bladed composite propellers, type HS-568F-5 developed by Hamilton Sundstrand. The blades, of 3.89m diameter, have autofeathering and synchrophasing.

"The cabin holds up to 57m³ of cargo."

The aircraft carries a 7,700l fuel load, giving a maximum range of 5,630km.

The aircraft can be equipped with an optional probe for probe and drogue refuelling, so the range can be extended by in-flight refuelling.

Landing gear

The aircraft is fitted with tricycle-type retractable landing gear designed by Messier-Dowty. The landing gear is designed to allow operation from semi-prepared runways, down to runway class CBR-2, and is equipped with levered suspension and oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers.

The main landing gear, each equipped with two wheels in tandem, is installed in fairings on the underside of the fuselage. The gear is fitted with Dunlop hydraulically operated differential disc brakes and an anti-skid system. The steerable nose wheel is fitted with twin wheels.